Game Changers

Top 25 Transformative High Schools

We re-ranked all our top schools based on the number of students who fall below federal poverty lines. The result: the most transformative secondary institutions across the country.

By Lauren StreibMay 06, 2013

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/130503_school_Transformative_viuc0i — Our list of the top high schools in America highlights places that best prepare students for postsecondary education. However, because there is a correlation between wealth and graduation, and between wealth and achievement, schools in high-income areas tend to rank higher. In order to recognize schools that are doing well despite challenges with budgets, Newsweek and The Daily Beast re-ranked all of our top schools based on the number of students that fall below federal poverty lines. The result: the most transformative secondary institutions across the country.

The methodology for this list is simple: we multiplied each top school’s Newsweek score by the percentage of students who are eligible for free- or reduced-price lunches, a leading indicator of socioeconomic status. The overall ranking for each school is based on the graduation rate, college-bound rate of grads, AP participation, and test scores.

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/best-high-schools-transformative-preuss_vayiwi — La Jolla, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 154

Graduation Rate: 92%

College-bound Grad Rate: 99%

AP/IB Tests per Student: 1.9

Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 100%
The Preuss School

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/best-high-schools-american-indian_kzecxr — Oakland, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 11
Graduation Rate: 100%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 2.6
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 81%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/best-high-schools-south-uplift-williams_uqx0wo — Dallas, Texas

Overall Newsweek Rank: 732
Graduation Rate: 100%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 1.1
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 96%
Brandon Thibodeaux & Uplift Education

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Alliance-Dr-Olga-Mohan-High-School_usap23 — Los Angeles, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 802
Graduation Rate: 100%
College-bound Grad Rate: 99%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.6
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 98%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/best-high-schools-south-uplift-peak_ttgdrt — Dallas, Texas

Overall Newsweek Rank: 732
Graduation Rate: 100%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 1.1
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 96%
Brandon Thibodeaux & Uplift Education

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Alliance-Gertz-Ressler-High-School_pbufj9 — Los Angeles, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 902
Graduation Rate: 97%
College-bound Grad Rate: 98%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.6
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 97%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Somerset-Academy_hryucz — Homestead, Florida

Overall Newsweek Rank: 1232
Graduation Rate: 98%
College-bound Grad Rate: 98%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.4
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 100%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/high-school-Sport-Medical-Sciences-Academy_bultin — Hartford, Connecticut

Overall Newsweek Rank: 1238
Graduation Rate: 91%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.1
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 100%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Bridgeport-High-School_m2dtvz — Bridgeport, Washington

Overall Newsweek Rank: 1305
Graduation Rate: 93%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.6
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 100%
Brad Skiff

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Alliance-Huntington-Park-College-Ready-Academy-High-School_njub8a — Los Angeles, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 1328
Graduation Rate: 98%
College-bound Grad Rate: 95%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.4
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 98%
Mark Savage

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Oscar-de-la_Hoya-high-school_cwuqw6 — Los Angeles, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 1348
Graduation Rate: 91%
College-bound Grad Rate: 99%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.4
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 98%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/130502-Van-Nuys-High-School_u4fo2b — Van Nuys, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 172
Graduation Rate: 99%
College-bound Grad ate: 98%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 1.1
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 81%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Animo-Leadership-Charter-High-School_ld8rnw — Inglewood, California

Overall Newsweek Rank: 1159
Graduation Rate: 92%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.3
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 95%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/best-high-schools-south-uplift-summit_ttzerd — Arlington, Texas

Overall Newsweek Rank: 51
Graduation Rate: 100%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 2.0
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 75%
Brandon Thibodeaux & Uplift Education

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Noble-Street-College-Prep_tdfldq — Chicago, Illinois
Overall Newsweek Rank: 1013
Graduation Rate: 94%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.7
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 91%
Paul Elledge

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/PSJA-Memorial-High-School_jrykwy — Alamo, Texas
Overall Newsweek Rank: 1597
Graduation Rate: 95%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.2
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 100%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/YES-Prep-Public-Schools_snvd9t — Houston, Texas
Overall Newsweek Rank: 370
Graduation Rate: 92%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.8
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 82%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Animo-Pat-Brown-Charter-High-School_syomtc — Los Angeles, California
Overall Newsweek Rank: 1561
Graduation Rate: 86%
College-bound Grad Rate: 100%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.2
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 99%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/San-Gabriel-High-School_wmvpo5 — San Gabriel, California
Overall Newsweek Rank: 925
Graduation Rate: 94%
College-bound Grad Rate: 96%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.5
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 89%
Natalie Ma

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/South-Texas-Business-Education-Technology-Academy_rzkree — Edinburg, Texas
Overall Newsweek Rank: 592
Graduation Rate: 97%
College-bound Grad Rate: 98%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 1.2
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 85%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Animo-Jackie-Robinson-Charter-High-School_gnj8jc — Los Angeles, California
Overall Newsweek Rank: 1485
Graduation Rate: 97%
College-bound Grad Rate: 94%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.1
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 97%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/130509-Phoenix-Military-Academy_upcvvi — Chicago, Illinois
Overall Newsweek Rank: 1390
Graduation Rate: 93%
College-bound Grad Rate: 90%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.4
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 95%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Alliance-Marc-and-Eva-Stern-Math-and-Science-School_hy0jht — Los Angeles, California
Overall Newsweek Rank: 1102
Graduation Rate: 93%
College-bound Grad Rate: 98%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.8
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 90%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/Downtown-Magnets-High-School_m7hj1g — Los Angeles, California
Overall Newsweek Rank: 897
Graduation Rate: 94%
College-bound Grad Rate: 97%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.5
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 87%

galleries/2013/05/06/top-25-transformative-high-schools/130506-Valley-View-High-School_ybtgxf — Hidalgo, Texas
Overall Newsweek Rank: 1700
Graduation Rate: 96%
College-bound Grad Rate: 74%
AP/IB Tests per Student: 0.5
Students Receiving Subsidized Lunch: 100%

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